Thijs' Les Paul that was supposed to be green...

[wazkelly]

Plenty of truss rod stuff on eBay where you can even buy some with personalised script engraved into the 3 ply laminate. On my to explorer builds I purchased Rosewood shaped Truss Rod covers that are rounded off and matched the rosewood fret boards.

[Thijs]

Took a while for me to resume building, but I was spending a couple of days visiting in sunny Barcelona, Spain.

I managed to make the magical moment of glueing the neck to the body.

I read on several sites that it's not advised to use regular PVA wood-glue. A few years ago I made a side-table with a glass top, & I glued that with 2 component epoxy. And I know how strong that stuff is.
So I thought this will work fine for my LP.

First thing that came to mind was that you have to be very careful with this glue. As my old man calls this stuff: "Strube".
A Dutch wordplay on STRont uit een tUBE.
Or in English: sh*t out of a tube.

First I checked if the neck was still straight by installing the bridge & placing a thread along the neck to the bridge.

Next I put the epoxy in the cavity of the body & not on the neck. So when I shove the neck in, it's pushing the glue further in.
And any exess glue has to be removed immediately.

I had this sit for a day or 2 before I removed the clamp.
And this was the result:



The body from one side:



And from the other side:



Then it was time to go to Barcelona.

This week I ordered a few trussrod covers, so they will be in the mail the next few days, & this weekend I'm planning on doing the soldering.

[stan]

looks good, nice job
The disadvantage of epoxy glues is that if the neck ever needs a repair/removed/reset for some reason - it can't be done.
Titebond original glue is more than strong enough for the job (it's aliphatic not PVA, a yellow glue, not white) , bonds stronger than the timber itself and can be heated and steamed off if need be.

[Kick]

Looking good Thijs. Always an exciting moment when you glue in the neck

[wazkelly]

Exciting? I have only done 1 set neck and the words that come to mind were anxious, nervous, doubtful, and afterwards, grateful that it worked out ok. Excitement kicked when it was all done and ready to play.

[Kick]

Haha, ok Waz, your description is more fitting than mine

[Thijs]

looks good, nice job
The disadvantage of epoxy glues is that if the neck ever needs a repair/removed/reset for some reason - it can't be done.
Titebond original glue is more than strong enough for the job (it's aliphatic not PVA, a yellow glue, not white) , bonds stronger than the timber itself and can be heated and steamed off if need be.

Thanks, Stan!

True!
But I didn't had Titebond at hand, & it's also not easy to come by in the Netherlands. So I figured the epoxy would do fine.
I guess I just have to hope the neck never has to be repaired or anything.

Looking good Thijs. Always an exciting moment when you glue in the neck

Exciting? I have only done 1 set neck and the words that come to mind were anxious, nervous, doubtful, and afterwards, grateful that it worked out ok. Excitement kicked when it was all done and ready to play.

Thanks, Kick!

Haha!
And I had the extra stress-factor of using epoxy. I don't think I would be using it again.

But I'm glad it worked out fine. Hopefully I can focus on installing all the wiring & finishing the guitar.

[Fretworn]

That top looks great. Shiny!

[Thijs]

That top looks great. Shiny!

Thanks!
Hope to install the wiring this week & then finish it